Published: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 18, 2014 at 5:06 p.m.

Better tighten those seat belts. The 2014 Sprint Cup Series is looking at its most competitive year since Dale Earnhardt Jr. could first grow facial hair.

NASCAR has not only leveled the playing field for its marquee series, it has dumped a ton of fertilizer on the competition.

The stats don't lie.

With seven different drivers winning in the first eight races, the sport is on track to tie or break the modern-era record for most winning drivers in one season.

In 2001, when Earnhardt was a Cup Series sophomore, a record 19 drivers won races in a 36-race schedule. Based on seven winners in eight races, the 2014 series would produce more than 30 winning drivers before the season is complete.

That might be a stretch, but 19 or better is a reachable number.

The rule change

Points? Please. The sanctioning body turned the tables on how the Cup Series championship is decided. The season will end with a one-race shootout between four drivers, who advance through three knockout rounds during the 10-race Chase. Cup Series racing has suddenly become all about winning, while gathering championship points has become an afterthought or a safety net.

The winners to date

Earnhardt's Daytona 500 victory set the tone for this season. Earnhardt snapped a 55-race losing streak and declared he was Chase-ready. Kurt Busch's victory at Martinsville was his first in a couple of years, too. The other five drivers with wins — Kevin Harvick (2), Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano — all had Cup wins last season.

The sure-thing batch

Ironically, the two drivers who led the 2013 series in victories have not seen Victory Lane this year. Matt Kenseth, who had a series-leading seven checkered flags, and Jimmie Johnson, with six, have yet to win. At the eight-race mark last year, they had each notched a pair of victories. They will surely make their way to the winner's circle in short order, joined by Kasey Kahne, another multiple-race winner from 2013.

Middle-level players

As the season reaches the halfway point with the July 5 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, several other drivers will probably be in the clubhouse with a triumph. Greg Biffle, who is in a contract season, will be favored at all 1.5- and 2-mile ovals. Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin and possibly even Brian Vickers could also land a trophy by July.

Breakthrough drivers

If you haven't been keeping count, 16 drivers have been named here so far, and there are plenty more who have the equipment and ability to win races, such as Ganassi Racing's Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson, a rookie who drives like a crusty veteran. Martin Truex Jr. has two career wins as he waits for Furniture Row Racing to catch momentum. Austin Dillon will wheel the No. 3 back to victory in the second half and Marcos Ambrose will be heavily favored at the two road-course races. Aric Almirola has yet to win a race, but he's threatened a few times this season. And don't forget David Ragan, who won Talladega's spring race in 2013.

They probably won't win

Jeff Gordon has six top-10 finishes and leads the Cup Series points standings, but may not win a race this season. It happened in 2008 and 2010 and Gordon could get skunked again. Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are still learning in their second year of Cup racing and none of the other rookies have the equipment to push themselves to the front. Single-car-team drivers Casey Mears and AJ Allmendinger face an insurmountable uphill battle. David Gilliland has not won a Cup race in over eight seasons and likely will never win. He has only four top-5 finishes in his career.

<p>Better tighten those seat belts. The 2014 Sprint Cup Series is looking at its most competitive year since Dale Earnhardt Jr. could first grow facial hair.</p><p>NASCAR has not only leveled the playing field for its marquee series, it has dumped a ton of fertilizer on the competition.</p><p>The stats don't lie.</p><p>With seven different drivers winning in the first eight races, the sport is on track to tie or break the modern-era record for most winning drivers in one season.</p><p>In 2001, when Earnhardt was a Cup Series sophomore, a record 19 drivers won races in a 36-race schedule. Based on seven winners in eight races, the 2014 series would produce more than 30 winning drivers before the season is complete.</p><p>That might be a stretch, but 19 or better is a reachable number.</p><p><b>The rule change</b></p><p>Points? Please. The sanctioning body turned the tables on how the Cup Series championship is decided. The season will end with a one-race shootout between four drivers, who advance through three knockout rounds during the 10-race Chase. Cup Series racing has suddenly become all about winning, while gathering championship points has become an afterthought or a safety net.</p><p><b>The winners to date</b></p><p>Earnhardt's Daytona 500 victory set the tone for this season. Earnhardt snapped a 55-race losing streak and declared he was Chase-ready. Kurt Busch's victory at Martinsville was his first in a couple of years, too. The other five drivers with wins — Kevin Harvick (2), Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano — all had Cup wins last season.</p><p><b>The sure-thing batch</b></p><p>Ironically, the two drivers who led the 2013 series in victories have not seen Victory Lane this year. Matt Kenseth, who had a series-leading seven checkered flags, and Jimmie Johnson, with six, have yet to win. At the eight-race mark last year, they had each notched a pair of victories. They will surely make their way to the winner's circle in short order, joined by Kasey Kahne, another multiple-race winner from 2013.</p><p><b>Middle-level players</b></p><p>As the season reaches the halfway point with the July 5 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, several other drivers will probably be in the clubhouse with a triumph. Greg Biffle, who is in a contract season, will be favored at all 1.5- and 2-mile ovals. Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin and possibly even Brian Vickers could also land a trophy by July.</p><p><b>Breakthrough drivers</b></p><p>If you haven't been keeping count, 16 drivers have been named here so far, and there are plenty more who have the equipment and ability to win races, such as Ganassi Racing's Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson, a rookie who drives like a crusty veteran. Martin Truex Jr. has two career wins as he waits for Furniture Row Racing to catch momentum. Austin Dillon will wheel the No. 3 back to victory in the second half and Marcos Ambrose will be heavily favored at the two road-course races. Aric Almirola has yet to win a race, but he's threatened a few times this season. And don't forget David Ragan, who won Talladega's spring race in 2013.</p><p><b>They probably won't win</b></p><p>Jeff Gordon has six top-10 finishes and leads the Cup Series points standings, but may not win a race this season. It happened in 2008 and 2010 and Gordon could get skunked again. Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are still learning in their second year of Cup racing and none of the other rookies have the equipment to push themselves to the front. Single-car-team drivers Casey Mears and AJ Allmendinger face an insurmountable uphill battle. David Gilliland has not won a Cup race in over eight seasons and likely will never win. He has only four top-5 finishes in his career.</p>